Acupuncture for Pain and Injury
Acupuncture may help in treating many forms of injury and pain, including chronic pain. Our acupuncturists are ACC Treatment Providers.
Acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in treating some acute injuries. In general, the sooner the injury is treated, the better the result. Studies show that acupuncture has effectiveness in reducing inflammation and swelling so early treatment of an injury may considerably lessen the time needed for recovery. It's important to know that some injuries and cases may not respond as well as others and as such, no outcome is guaranteed. People who receive acupuncture for an acute injury frequently report that they feel considerably calmer after treatment, as well as often reporting a reduction in pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be useful in treating chronic pain. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain is generally caused by stagnation. Acupuncture helps to promote free flow of Qi and to remove blockages and stagnation, therefore working to reduce pain.
Subsidized ACC Acupuncture for Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation
Once a claim has been accepted by ACC you may choose to receive acupuncture treatment for the injury (treatment needs to occur within a certain timeframe of the injury and to be considered appropriate for your particular condition). It is not necessary to be referred to an acupuncturist by your GP, physiotherapist or other health provider however your acupuncturist will only provide subsidized treatment if it's considered appropriate for your condition. The clinic charges a co-payment for ACC treatment meaning you pay a greatly reduced fee. Enter your valid ACC-45 number and injury type at the time of booking for the injury you are seeking treatment for in order to enable the clinic to pre-check if you are eligible for this reduced fee. ACC-45 numbers consist of two letters followed by five numbers. If you are unsure of your ACC-45 number or if your injury is covered you can call ACC on 0800 101 996 to find out.
If the injured area is inaccessible due to a plaster cast or dressing, acupuncture points can be chosen above and below the site to treat the injury. Because acupuncture points occur on both sides of the body, the uninjured side may be needled to effect treatment.
Please note an acupuncturist CANNOT lodge an ACC claim for you, and without a valid ACC45 number you will be liable for the full private cost of treatment on the day even if you book under ACC.
Limited Time Offer
Save $10 on your first acupuncture treatment. Enter Coupon Code FirstNatTao, or FirstNatACC (if ACC related).
Not valid with any other offer. New patients only.
M: Temp unavail natalie@taoclinic.co.nz
Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Treatment
Studies have shown acupuncture to be effective at varying levels for many forms of chronic pain including back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches and osteoarthritis to name a few. It may also help patients to better manage their pain and potentially reduce pain relief medication in conjunction with their GP. The Acupuncture Evidence Project is a great resource if you wish to know more.
What to Expect at your Acupuncture Treatment
First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health and injury history, pain and function levels and how well you can move the injured or painful area. Then, he or she will examine your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulse, and possibly perform some additional physical examinations like muscle testing and checking for potential nerve damage, depending on your individual health needs. Using these unique assessment tools, the acupuncturist will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan to address your particular condition. To begin the acupuncture treatment, you lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acu-points are stimulated on various areas of your body. Most people feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine, pre-sterilised needles are gently placed. The needles are usually retained between five and 30 minutes and the entire first session will take up to 1 hour.
Your acupuncturist may recommend and include other treatment techniques such as cupping, moxibustion and auriculotherapy (using ear seeds or tiny needles on points on the ear) with your permission if they are appropriate for your condition. Many patients find auriculotherapy to be useful for prolonging the effects of treatment as they go home wearing 'ear seeds' or tiny 'press needles' on their ear to help further manage their pain while away from the clinic.
How Do I Choose the Right Acupuncturist?
At Tao Clinic we have only highly trained acupuncturists. Our acupuncturists are recognized ACC Treatment Providers and hold a minimum four year Bachelor of Health Science that consists of a combination of both traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Biomedical training. To guarantee the standard of training and competency, we advise that you always verify that your acupuncturist is registered with one of the two regulation bodies for acupuncturists in New Zealand and also now with the recently formed Chinese Medical Council of New Zealand (this last registration is now a legal requirement to practice as an acupuncturist in New Zealand):
https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/
Links to Research:
https://www.asacu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Acupuncture-Evidence-Project-The.pdf
https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions.html
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